Safety device for platen presses



SAFETY DEVIC FORVPLATEN PBESES. APPLICATION FILED IAN.3I, 192i).

1,410,483. Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. @3591 HEHIMI UEIBEZAHL H. WEIBEZAHL.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR PLATEN PRESSES.

. APPLICATION FILEDy IAN.3I, 1920.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TENT

SAFETY DEVE FOR PLATEN PRESSES.

Specification of-Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application filed January 3l, 1920. Serial No. 355,490.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, HERMAN lVinnnzAnL, a citizen of the United States, residing' ai Grange, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety llevices tor Platen Presses, and I do hereby declare the following' to be a full, clear, and exact-description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to safety devices particularly adapted for the American style oi" platen printing` presses.

The object of my inif'ention is to provide a safety device for platen presses which shall prevent the closing` of the press when the feeders hand or lingers remain between ythe platen and the bed, which device, at the 20 case in the use of other safe-ty devices7 new.

being put upon the market, for want of a proper safety guard.

I am well. aware that a safety device partially accomplishing; the result sought hy me has been in commercial use for a number of years, on one type of the Victoria presses, which are. manufactured in Germany, but that device isdesigned for that particular press solely, and is inapplicable to the presses built in this country. The Victoria press is operated by a -friction `clutch movement which disengages the press presses, not only to yshut oil the power` hut to stop the flywheel from revolving,` and to check the momentum of the press itself which, even if the flywheel were disengaged,

would he sufficient to .injure the feeders hand, if caught upon the platen.

The Victoria device, has, however some grave objections. The guard trame recedes below the level of the platen, being recessed therein, and the working mechanism of the device is in use at all times, hence subject to wear. Furthermore., it is liable to not work if only the fingers are caught by the frame, but even if it .does not fail to work, the frame, being` ina-fle in one piece and fastened te the Oripoer bar, is able to deliver a painiul blow, and catch the fingers as in a shear and prevent their withdrawal without pain or injury. l

The other safety devices referred to above consist of a slidin'gly-extensible frame carried on the bridge of the press, land which, actuated by rods cominggin contact with the connecting;` links. rises above the platen. as the press is closing, the object being; to raise the hard ont et danger. lt will readily be seen, therefore, 'tl'iat,'exce1`it in the beninning of the closing' movement of the press, there is an obstacle presented to the proper adjustment ofthe sheet to the guides, which increases in geometrical proportion as the press closes, with the result that, unless the sheet'be `ted to its proper position before the )laten has risen, it is necessary to bend the arm over this ever-increasing,T obstacle to give the sheet its final adjustment and, unless the hand be removed in time. it is forced hy the safety frame against the forni rollers. Several devices of this lorder have come upon the market vfor someyears'past, het were discarded, and their manufacture abandoned.

Subsequently new devices on the same order were brought out, and, for want of a better device, carne into use. lt was found, howev r, that accidents resulted by reason oi the feeders putting their hands under the frame on the opening* movement. A curtain was therefore added to the latest of the devices. |This curtain ents ofi' his vision, so

that `the feeder must .rely upon his sense of feeling to know whether the sheet has been properly fed ragainst the guides, or trip the pressnnless he has seen the sheet in its proper. position before the curtain has cut ofi his .vision The result is. naturally, the time of adjustment of the sheet being so largely reduced, a very much curtailed output, and a very largely increased outputl of improperly fed sheets, since too great a movement of the hand is required to reach the throw-off bar, owing to the increased bend of the hand by reason of the safety device, The larger the press, the greater, naturally, the difculties and dangers of these devices. To run a press at half speed without such a device would be safer and far more profitable in quantity and quality of out ut.

he present invention provides a safety guard, particularly adapted to the American type of platen presses, which possesses all the advantages of the Victoria device and eliminates the disadvantages of the latter. In accordance with the invention, the safet f' device is so constructed that the press wil be automatically stopped in case the arm,

`hand or fingers of a feeder remain upon the platen for too long a time. The momentum of the press is utilized to cause it to stop by expendlng its force upon a brake. The arrangement is such that the press will be stopped at various points near the limit of its closing movement, so that if an arm, hand, or finger remains under the safety frame there will be a different stopping point for each of these members, in order that they will not be caught between the platen and the bed of the press. The parts of the safety device that are associated with the platen are so constructed as not to interfere with the feeding of sheets to the press,

Ifio prevent overhanging sheets from being A further object of the invention is to eliminate the danger of in'ury to the hand or arm of a feeder by a blow delivered by the guard frame, for in the Victoria device the guard frame has been made rigid with the gripper bar, and, although regulated by a spring, it may deliver a stinging blow, particularly when the fpresses are running at igh speed, and the vrame may even hold the hand or arm in suoli a manner as to prevent its withdrawal without injury even though the frame were made to lie flat upon the platen.

The apparatus of the present invention is also constructed so that it will not function to stop the press if the hand or arm be withdrawn intime, ori'f the safety guard merely strikes one of these members. In other Words, the safety device is so constructed that its parts will work only in case they are made effective by the guard frame. This prevents wear on a part which, after perhaps years of useless movement, might be called upon to perform a function which, in its worn condition, it might be unable to do by reason of wear upon the part, due to continual movement.

.While the apparatus in intended primarily for stopping the press in case the hand or arm of an operator is not removed in time from the platen, the invention also provides anA independent, manually operable,

- means by which the press may be stopped in case of accidents to its mechanism, such .as the breaking of the roliler carriage, the

falling .of a form, or theV jumping out a.

quoin. In the case of such accidents, the press is usually seriously damaged, and eX- pensive repairs are necessary. As ordinarily contructed, the press cannot be stopped quickly enough to prevent injury, as it requires not only a setting of the brake, and a pulling of the switch, in case of motor drive, but a rare presence of mind combined with great strength, to stop the press in so short a space of time. In accordance with the present invention, it is only necessary to dislodge, by means of a handle, a suspended weight, and this can be accomplished by a mere touch with a finger.

The particular nature of the invention, as Well as other objects and advantages thereof, will appear more clearly from a description of a preferred embodiment, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which, for the purpose of lllustration, I have shown the embodiments of my invention as applied to a Universal press, though, with slight modifications, it can be applied to any other style of press.

One of such modifications consists, in the case of presses having no recesses alongside of thc earcarrying the gripper bar for the safety frame to lie in, in mounting a safety frame between the frame'of the press and the connecting links and having it normally stationary in a position in front of the form rollers when in their cxtreme elevation, and in such a position with respect to the platen that the latter vwill freely pass under the frame but close enough so that'the 1fra-nie will be displaced, if the feeders hand be not withdrawn, when the point lof danger has been reached, the braking mechanism being set in motion by such movement of the frame. i

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a press in the open position, with the safety device at normal.A In Fig. 2, the press is. shown in closed position. Figs. 3 and 4 show the po'- sition of the parts near the :termination of the closing movement, with the safety device in action, the flywheel, brake and other parts `being omitted yto aviid confusion. Fig. 5 is an enlargeddetail Viewl of the parts of the device in their-.normal position. Fig. 6 is an end view ofthe device, the connecting link upon which it is mounted vbeing shown in section. Fig. 7 is a detail View of the safety frame.

Similar reference marks refer to similar parts throughout the Seyer views. I ,have designated the parts ofthe press by minierails, and have used letters for the parts which go to make up my device. In the platen printing press illustrated somewhat diagrammatically 1 ,is the frame, 2 the drive gear, 3 the pulley, 4 the flywheel, 5 the gear wheel. G the connecting links,7 the bridge, f4 the platen, 9 the gripper bar, 10 the bale hoops, and 11th@ brake leyer provided with a belt shifter 1:2 and arranged to' control ay brake shoel. y

ln accordance with this invention l mount upon the gripper bar my' safety traine A, by

` until released by themovement ofthe trip vears by which the gripper bar is held, and

no part l:omes into contact with the carriage ways. y platen, except its upper bar, which lies upon it.

As the press is in motion, and nearing the closing movement, the spun-in passing the connecting link, travels slopingly downwardy to about the lower line of the link, and ascends slopingly upward, the lines resembling' the letter V. A short distance back of the upward stroke,l I mount my trip B. The outline ot its working face is similar tothe path over which the spur moves. To the trip, I connect a release bar b1, provided with an upwardly-bent handle. A spring o2 holds the trip in normal position. Connected vto the release bar by a hook b3 is a stop C, which is held in normal positionl B. This stop is mounted on the outside of the connecting link by a bolt C1, and consists of two parts hinged together at C2 and held in alinement by a latch C3. The outer part or' the stop is provided at its end with a number ot steps. When the stop is released by the movement ot the trip, it; falls of its own weight into position to allowl onefof` the steps to engage with the brake lever D, according to the position of the press atA the time, and is carried over with the brake lever until the shoe has brought thepress to aA stop. I provide a restCfV for the stop so that, in case it be disengaged Vbefore the upper. step is in aposition to engage the i shoel, which `it'will set when the brake` lever ll is thrown back by the StopfThef' brake lever, it'will be held so that engagement with it will be effected atthe proper time. Y Y the stop so that the press ean'be stopped by a mere touch oit the releas'ebar b1, without Y closing eutirely,`w hen the press is beyond a point where there is. any danger to the `feeder, but where it, might be necessary tol `Stop it il any accidentshould happen t0 the term, form rollers, orfor any other reason it should be desirable to stop the press before closing. A i

The brake leverD is attached to the'press on the varm carrying the brake lever 1p1, It

has an arm Z1 extending under the brakerlhus, the Jframe lies level with ther One or moresteps maybe added to` lorm ot press shown herein is arranged to may be driven by an electric motor provided with a switch arranged to be actuated by the brake lever' ll so that it may be controlled -by the brake lever D.

In the operation of my device the safety trame A, being attached to the gripper bar, moves in unison with it and the grippers, passing the trip without interference except when, by the interposition of an object between the trame and the platen, the hinged portion is forced forward. In that case the spur a*,'coming in contact with the trip B,

will tip the latter andy disengage the hook 3 from the stop C so that thelatter will fall into position to engage the brake lever D,

and stop the press. The trip, being set a short distance away romthe line described by the spur, will not beset off by the frame merely striking the hand, but is forced back into `position by the action of the spring on the release bar.

. l have shown in Figs. l and 5 an elliptical course which represents the line described by the brake lever -11 in relation to the moving connecting link, the lower line representing the closing movement of the press. It

. will be seen that there is no interference by f the lever with the lstop when same isin normal Vposition but Vwhen released by the trip,

the stop will fall into position to engage the brake lever, the particular step coming into engagement being determined by the position of the press at the time of the setting oill of the safety device. Thus, it a thick object, like the arm, be interposed between the safety frame and the platen, the frame will occupy a `position such as is shown in Fig. 3 inwhich case the spur vwill engage the trip atan earlier part ofthe stroke than it would ii a thinner objeet,"such as a finger, be interposed Vbetween the safety frame and the platen, in which case the parts occupy a position such asis shown in Fig. 4C. In either event the stop C will be released, but in the first case the stop will fallso that its upper step will engage the brake lever D as shown in 3, while in the second' case the stop will tall so that its lowest `step will engage the brake lever as shown in Fig. 4. It must 'be evid'entthat, when soengaged, the connecting link will actto set the brake lever with the Ypower of. the momentumol the press, this being checked, however, as soon as the brake-shoe begins to operate, and all the momentum is expended then upon the brake to bring the machine quickly to rest.

To release the press, the stop may be broken by means of the latch c3 carried thereon. It may then be released from the brake lever D and restored to normal condition by being attached to the hook b3 on the release bar; v

, be driven by a belt under the control oi the shifter 'l2 onthe brake lever 1l, but the press IA have shown in the illustrations the parts Imounted upon the connecting link carried on a casing upon same. They may, how- .ever, be mounted directly upon the link. .Other Vmodifications may be made Without -presses comprising side `members adapted to lie adjacent to the sides of the platen and not extend above ,the face thereof which side members carry hinged joints movable in only ,one direction, and a top member vadapted .to lie `upon the face of Ythe platen at the upper edge thereof.

,3. .In a gear-driven platen printing press, the combination of a safety frame and braking-mechanism engageable through displaceh.ment of the frame, adapted to automatically stop the press when the frame is prevented .from occupying its normal position.

4. In a `platen lprinting press, the combination of a safety frame, a fly wheel and braking mechanism engageable with jthrough displacementofsaid frame, adapted to stop the press beforev the completion of Ithe closing movement.

5. In a gear-driven platen printing press,

' :the combination of asafety frame, a tripping device and brakingmechanism adapted to be brought into operation through said tripping device for automaticallyv stopping the press .when said frame ,is prevented from Aoccupying its normal position with relation fte-the plate-Hf x6. fIn a platen printing pressa fly wheel,

braking mechanism acting on .the fly wheel,

a safety frame and means adapted for opera- ;tively connecting ythe safety frame and the braking mechanism when the said frame is forced vout of normal position. 7 In a l.platen printing press, a safety frame, abrake, and :brake 1actuating mechanism,- the safety'vframe :when forced outv of normal position being adapted to operatively connect the brake actuating mecha- ,nism With-moving parts vof the pressfor 'applying a `progressive braking action.

8. Ina gear-driven platen printing press,-

the combination lof a safety frame, a brake, and means associated with the safety frame adapted to automatically set the brake to stop the press when the safety frame assumes an abnormal position.

9. In a gear-driven platen printing press,

the combination of a safety frame` and means under the control of the safety frame adapted to cause the momentum orf-the :pressto be expended in stopping the same when the safety frame is prevented from becoming normally seated.

10. In a gear-driven platen printing press, the combination of a safety frame, a brake, and means under the control of the safety frame' adapted to cause the momentum of the press to be expended in applying the brake to the moving parts of the press when the safety frame is prevented from becoming normally seated.

11. In a gear-driven platen printing press the combination of a safety frame adapted normally to occupy such a relation to the platen that it does not interfere with the feeding of sheets thereto, and means associated with the safety' frame adapted to Vautomatically stop the press when the safety frame occupies an abnormal position with respect to the platen.

, 12. In a platen printing press, the combination of a safety frame associated with the platen and adapted to `be displaced by the presence of an object between the platen and the frame, other than the sheet being fed, and means under the control of the frame adapted to automatically stop the press at a point in the closing vmovement of the platen, depending upon the amount'of displacement of the frame caused by said object between it andthe platen.

V13. In a gear-driven ,platen printing press, the combination of a safety frame adapted normally to remain inactive, and means associated with said safety frame for automatically stopping the press if the safety frame is preventedfrom occupying its normal position when the platen reaches a predetermined point in its closing movement,

vsaid means comprising a trip adapted to be brought into action through displacement vof Vsaid yframe and braking mechanism `prevented from lfunctioning `until actuated by saidtrip. y l

14;. In a gear-driven platen printing press the combination of a safety frame, an auxiliary emergency brake lever, means for actuating the brake zlever by movement of the press, and means under the control of the safety frame adapted to cause the brake lever actuating means to become effective when the safety-frame is prevented from becoming normallyv seated.

15. In a gear-driven platenY printing press, the combination of a brake, an auxiliary VAlever for controlling the brake, means for actuating the lever, means associated with the platen for controlling the brake lever lactuating means adaptedv to automatically apply the brake, and means whereby the brake lever actuating means may bev controlled manually to apply the brake.

16. In a platen printing press the combination vof a safety.l frame .comprising a lower portion and an upper portion hinged to each other, a spur mounted upon one of said portions, and a trip controlling a braking mechanism adapted to be brought into action through the release of said trip, all coacting for automatically stopping the press when the upper portion is displaced with respect to the lower portion.

17. In a platen printing press, the combination of a safety frame composed of jointe'dly connected portions adapted normally to be seated upon the platen, braking mechanism forsthe press, and means associated with one of the portions of the frame adapted to actuate the braking mechanism when said'portion is displaced from its normal position by the presence of an obstruction between it and the platen.

18. In a platen printing press the combination of a safety frame composed of two portions pivotally connected to each other, means for normally holding the two portions in the same plane, braking mechanism for the press, and means associated with one of the portions ofthe frame adapted to yactuate the braking mechanism when saidportion is displaced from the plane of the other `portion by an obstruction between it vand the platen.

19; `In a platen printing press the combination of braking mechanism for the moving parts of the press, means for controlling` the braking mechanism, and a normally inactive safety device associated with the platen and adapted to be placed in operative relation to the braking mechanism controlling means by the presence of an obstruction between it and the platen of the press.

20. In. a printing press havinga rocking platen, a connecting link yattached to the platen and rotary driving means for moving the connecting link, the combination of a safety frame associated with the platen, a tripping member and a stopping` member, each mounted upon the VconnectingV link, a

- brake associated with the driving means of' the press, a lever for controlling the brake, means associated Awith the tripping member for holding the stopping member in position to clear the brake lever during the normal operation of the press, and means associated with the safety frame adapted to actuate the tripping member to release the stopping member, so that it may engage the lever to apply the brake when the frame assuines an abnormal position, vdue to the presence of an obstruction 'between said frame and the platenu Y 21. In a printing press having a rocking platen, a connecting link attached to the platen and rotary driving means for moving the connecting link, the combination of a safety frame associated with thepl'aten and composed of a lower portion and an upper portion jointedly att-ached to each other, a

tripping member and a stopping member, each pivotally mounted upon the connecting link, a brake associated with the driving means of the press, a lever for controlling the brake, means associated with the `trip ping member for holding the stopping member in position to clear the brake lever during the normal operation of the machine, and means associated with the upper portiony of the frame adapted, when said portion assumes an abnormal position, to engage the tripping member to release the stopping member sothat it may fall into engagement with the brake lever to actuate the latter and apply the brake.

22.` In a printing` press having a rocking platen, a connecting link attached to the platen and rotary driving` means for moving the connecting link, the combination of a safety frame associated with the platen, a brake associated with the driving means of the press, a. lever for controlling the brake, a trip mounted on the connecting link,y a stop composed of two parts hinged together one of said parts being pivoted to `the connecting link and the other part being provided with steps at its outer end, a latch for holding the parts in alinement, means associated with the trip and detachably connected to the step part of the stop for normally holding the stop in such position that it will not engage the brake lever during the operation of the press, and means associated with the safety frame adapted to engage the trip when theA frame is prevented from occupying its normal position with respect to the platen to release the stop and permit its stepped endto engage the end of the brake lever to apply the brake and'stop the machine.

23. safety device for a gear driven platen press, comprising braking` mechanism adapted to be engaged by moving parts of the press so that the inertia of these moving K parts causes the braking mechanism to operate, and a manually operated trip for throwing the braking mechanism into operative engagement with said moving parts of the press.

24. A safety device for a gear driven platen press, comprising braking mechanism adapted to be engaged by moving parts of the press, so that the inertia of these parts causes the braking` mechanism to operate, a safety frame adapted to be normally seated on the platen for automatically throwing in the braking mechanism when prevented from assuming its normal seating position, and a manually operated trip for also throwing` the braking mechanism into operative lengagement with the moving pai-ts of the press.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signa- `llO 

